A Club Built on Passion and Purpose

First started at Spring Mill Elementary and now in its fifth year at North Central High School, the Books by Girls Club has grown to include 30 students. The group meets monthly on Wednesday mornings to discuss the previous month’s book selection, enjoy donuts, and vote on the next read. During book drive season, meetings also include updates on logistics and progress

Led by Vivian Baker, a senior and second-year club president, the Books by Girls Club is an inclusive space where students read and discuss novels written by women. “Reading has been my favorite thing for as long as I can remember,” Vivian shares. “Being able to bring the joy of reading to any kid in the community makes it all worth it.”

Vivian’s favorite book from the club is A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, a powerful story about a Palestinian-American family navigating life in the U.S. “I wouldn’t have found that book if it hadn’t been for this club,” she says. “It’s one of my favorites now.”

Growing a Community Effort

The book drive began three years ago when students wanted to launch a community outreach project. Club Sponsor and North Central English Teacher, Christy Halterman connected the club with Indy Book Project, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing children across Indiana with access to books. Last year, they collected and donated over 3,500 children’s books, including 600 in foreign languages, which were distributed to daycares, rural schools, libraries, and families in need.

This year, the goal is 4,000 books.

Why Branded Boxes Matter

Previously, the club borrowed boxes from Indy Book Project, which featured their branding. While the partnership was a success, the club believed that Books by Girls Club branded boxes would help increase visibility, build community pride, and ultimately boost donations.

Club members took charge of the entire process, from designing logos and writing grants to coordinating drop-offs and pickups. Illeana Moore, a senior and first-year Vice President, created the new logo using bright, fun colors to make the boxes stand out. “I’ve seen the boxes at elementary schools and got excited seeing how many books were already inside,” she says. “It’s grown so much over the years, and I’m proud of that.”

Empowering Students Through Service

The book drive is more than just a collection effort; it’s a hands-on learning experience for students. “I’ve been really proud of them for how they step up and take responsibility,” shares Ms. Halterman.

Through this initiative, club members:

• Coordinate logistics across 10+ schools and businesses
• Communicate professionally with community leaders
• Promote events via social media, flyers, and digital signage
• Track donations and sort books for delivery

How You Can Help

From October 20–31, 2025, the Books by Girls Club is accepting new or gently used children’s books, YA novels, and multilingual books. Donation bins are located in the front office or media center of participating schools, as well as at many local businesses.

Please no magazines, religious texts, or inappropriate materials.

You can also support the drive via a monetary donation or by purchasing books from the Indy Book Project’s Amazon Wish List.

For questions or to get involved, please contact club sponsor Ms. Halterman at [email protected].

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